Aquatic amusement device



June 12,- 1934. F. J, EISERMAN AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

IN VEN TOR. Rae/"mam June 12, 1934.

F. J. EISERMAN AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVI CE Filed Dec. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Wet/Erick J Ezermafl.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 12, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT; OFFIE- AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Frederick J. Eiserman, Pearl River, N. Y.

Application December 20, 1932, Serial No. 648,044

6 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to an apparatus for use in furnishing recreation and exercise for bathers.

Speaking generally, the invention consists in a suitable standard adaptedto be rigidly supported with its axis vertical and serving as a spindle upon which a frame is mounted for rotation. The frame comprises a hub cooperating with a standard or spindle and having radial l0 arms terminating in floats or pontoons which The invention is susceptible to various modifications, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, but in all of its various forms, it provides a medium useful and enjoyable for recreation and exercise.

Features of the invention, other than those referred to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. 1

Figure l is a plan view of an amusement device embodying the present invention and illus- 'trating various uses of the same.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the structure as exhibited in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the floats shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the construction, a portion of the frame being broken away.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure 4.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are fragmental elevations of illustrative modified forms of standard and hub constructions which may be employed.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1-2, 1 designates a suitable standard, such, for example, as a metal rod rigidly supported in an appropriate footing 2 to the floor 3 of a tank, pool or the like.

In the drawings, the water is indicated by the reference character 4 and it will be noted that an appreciable portion of the standard is submerged, but that a part of such standard projects above the water surface.

Revolvably mounted upon standard 1 is a hub 5 shown in Figures 1 and 2 as a sleeve loosely fitting the standard and provided with bosses 6 for the attachment of rigid tubular arms 7 which extend radially of the standard as shown.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the arms 7 extend for an appreciable distance in a substantially horizontal direction, but near their ends they are bent downwardly as at 8 and permanently and rigidly attached to floats or pontoons 9. The pontoons, as shown in these figures, are provided with seats 10 and foot rests 11, and at their outer sides have outriggers 12, which support oarlocks 13, so that persons seeking recreation or exercise can sit upon the seats 10 with their feet across the foot rests 11 and manipulate cars 14 cooperating with the oarlocks 13, for the purpose of impelling the floats with consequent rotation of the frame formed by the arms '7 and the hub 5.

Arranged at suitable distances along the frame are suitable hangers or supports 15, the various uses of which are shown in Figure 1. Persons learning to swim may hold on to these supports or may pass the supports about the body as indicated, so that the frame serves to sustain theweight of the swimmer, while he or she is practising strokes and learning to swim. The hangers 15 may vary in shape as desired and there may be any appropriate number of them depending upon the size of the frame. 1

The floats 9 are of sufficient size or displacement to effectually support the weight of the frame and the persons adapted to recreate themselves thereon so that the standard in this form of the invention merely serves as a guide or spindle providing an appropriate axis of rotation, the frame and persons thereon being supported by the pontoons.

A somewhat simpler form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Here the stand ard l is mounted on a base 2 as hereinbefore stated, and the frame is provided with a hub having radial arms '7 fitted with pontoons or fioats 9, but the arms '7 are straight and the pontoons are not equipped with seats or oarlocks. When the arms '7 are straight as shown, they are sufficiently close to the water, so that they may be directly grasped by a person in the water and accordingly no hangers are necessary although short hand grips or hangers may be used if desired.

It will be noted that in Figures 4 and 5, the standard 1 carries at its top a platform 16. This platform while shown of circular configuration may be of any appropriate shape and serve as a diving platform from which divers may take off. The diving platform may be used with the structure of Figures 1 and 2 and if desired the pontoons of the structure of Figures 4 and 5 may be equipped with oarlocks, etc. as in the preceding figures.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 show different forms of relatively rotatable connections between the standard and the frame. In the structure of Figure 6, the standard designated 17 is provided in its upper portion with a socket 18 and the hub 19 which carries thearms 7 has a rigid depending stud 20 adapted to extend into the socket 18 to mount the frame on the standard for rotation and at the same time permit of vertical adjustment of the frame to compensate for variations in water level or loads.

Figure '7 shows a reversal of the structure of Figure 6, for here the hub 21 with which the arms 7 are rigid has a socket 22 into which the upper end of the standard 23 projects.

The structure of Figure 8 is substantially the same as the structure of Figures 1-5 with the exception that the hub 24 is made hollow and sufliciently large to constitute a buoyant member or float to assist the floats 9 in carrying the weight which may be imposed on the frame. In this arrangement, moreover, the hub 24 may be sufliciently large to also be used as a diving platform. Any one of the constructions shown in Figures 7 and 8 may be used in connection with the other features of the invention, shown in the remaining figures, as will be clearly understood.

The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a relatively simple construction, one which can be economically manufactured and one which will at the same time be the source of considerable amusement to bathers. The structure is such that no part can get out of order under normal use. There are no inherent dangers in the structure which would be apt to result in damage to the persons patronizing the same.

The fact that the frame is buoyantly supported by the floats causes it to automatically maintain a predetermined relation with the water at all times even though the water may be that of a stream, pool or other body of water where there are appreciable changes in water level due to tides, overflow, etc.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the frame as embodying two radial arms with a pontoon on each arm, but, in practice, the frame may embody any number of arms with any appropriate number of pontoons.

It is also within the purview of this invention to rotate the frame by power. This can be readily done mechanically or electrically as may be desired. For example, I may mount within the chambered hub 24 of Figure 8 an electric motor having gearing connections with the standard or spindle and utilize such motor to rotate the hub about a stationary spindle.

This method of drive, however, is illustrative and any other suitable means may be employed to mechanically rotate the frame if so desired.

As shown in the drawings, the footing 2 for the standard is in the form of a base 2. In practice this may be a metal base mounted on a suitable concrete foundation or the standard may itself be embodied in concrete or in any other suitable" footing.

It will be noted that in the several figures of the drawings, the hub is shown as having a relatively large central opening through which the standard 1 or 23 extends. This constructionisto permit of a sufficient clearance to allow appreci-- able side play or tilting of the frame of which said hub forms a part. This side play or side floating condition has several distinct advantages.

For example, it reduces friction between the hub' and the spindle and permits free rotation of the hub regardless of uneven distribution of weight imposed on the device. Secondly, it provides for a tilting or rocking movement in the connection with a rotary or oscillating movement such as may be produced by bathers in pushing, pulling or during a tug-of-war game on the apparatus. Thirdly, it provides relatively free movement of the floats and at the same time causes them to traverse a relatively fixed predetermined path during rotation of the device; and, fourthly, it permits the floats with their associated arms on the hub to be readily lifted off of the post without binding or construction. This relation of the parts constitutes an important feature of the present in vention as it allows of more universal movement of the parts as stated.

The floats are shown as provided with oarlocks so that the device may be rotated in this manner, but it may be rotated through the use of paddles, or by force applied by swimmers.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but inasmuch as it may be modified in details without departing from the invention, the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aquatic amusement device embodying a spindle arranged with its axis substantially vertical and mounted rigidly in position, a hub mounted for rotation and tilting movement on the spindle and free for movement axially thereof, arms extending radially from the hub, and a separate and individual float secured to the free end of each arm for supporting the same from the water.

2. An aquatic amusement device embodying a spindle arranged with its axis substantially vertical and mounted rigidly in position, a hub mounted for rotation and tilting movement on the spindle and free for movement axially thereof, arms extending radially from the hub at an appreciable distance above the surface of a sub- Jacent body of water with the free ends of the arms bent downwardly into proximity to the surface of the water, and a separate and individual float connected to the free end of each arm to support the same from the water.

3. An aquatic amusement device embodying a spindle arranged with its axis substantially vertical and mounted rigidly in position, a hub mounted for rotation and tilting movement on the spindle and free for movement axially thereof, arms extending radially from the hub at an appreciable distance above the surface of a subj acent body of water with the free ends of the arms bent downwardly into proximity to the surface of the water, a separate and individual float connected to the free end of each arm to support the same from the water, and a plurality of hangers suspended from said arms.

4. An aquatic amusement device embodying a substantially vertical standard, means for supporting the lower end of the standard in submerged condition below the surface of a body of water with the standard projecting upwardly above said surface, a self supporting buoyant hub rotatably mounted on the standard, radial arms secured to and extending from said hub, and a separate, individual float secured to the outer end of each arm to cooperate with the buoyant hub in supporting the associated arm from the water.

5. An aquatic amusement device embodying a spindle arranged with its axis substantially vertical and mounted rigidly in position, a hub mounted for rotation and tilting movement on the spindle, radial arms extending from the hub, a separate, individual float secured to the end of each arm to support said arm from a subjacent body of water, and a seat and oarlocks associated with each float to permit manual propulsion of the floats with consequent rotation of the arms and hub.

6. An aquatic amusement device embodying a spindlearrangedwithits axis substantially vertical and mounted rigidly in position, a relatively short hub loosely embracing said spindle to be tiltable with respect thereto and freely movable longitudinally thereof, separate buoyant vessels adapted to individually carry a passenger and each provided therein with a seat, said buoyant vessels being arranged in arcuately spaced relation about the spindle, and radial arms, each of which is secured at one end to the hub and at its other end. to one of the buoyant vessels, said tiltable mounting of the hub permitting the arms and vessels to tilt while the spindle remains in rigid vertical position.

FREDERICK J. EISERMAN. 

